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Cat Stove Pt1: Alcohol Fueled

About: i am a photolab technician and an incurable packrat.
i have made swords ,chainmail, crossbows.cameras,bike trailers,kayaks,guitars{slide and electric},knives,various film winders and vacum easels for the ph...
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hi today im going to make a cat stove and in a following instructable a windbreak and potstand hobo style.

Step 1: Materials List

to make this stove you will need :
2 cat food tins (1 156gram and 1 85 gram)
the lid from the bigger can
some muffler repair tape
a small piece of pink fibreglass insulation

tools:
hole punch
scissors
can opener
file or dremel

Step 2: Punching the Holes

take the small cat food can wash it really well {this is in case you nick yourself making this thing ..be pretty stupid to loose a finger to blood poisoning for a hobo stove wouldnt it?}

PIC 1and 2 use the hole punch to make a hole in the can as close to the top as you can make it.

PIC 3 make another one exactly opposite.

PIC 4 punch more holes in the middle of each unpunched segment until you have 16 holes. the number isnt super critical but fewer will give you a slower burning stove

Step 3: Time for the Big Tin

PIC 1 now take the cleaned up larger can
PIC 2 punch a hole in the center big enough to get the point of a scissors or tinsnips into it.
PIC 3,4 start a curved cut out to the edge of the crease on the bottom it makes a convenient template but if you want to you could make a smaller hole.
PIC 5 cut the center section out {use the file and sandpaper to clean up the edge of this hole it is razor sharp and most likely barbed.{ i hope you cleaned the can well cause here the most likely spot for a bit of gratuitous bleeding}
PIC 6 ,7,8 use the large can opener to open a triangular flap in the side of the can .then do it seven more times evenly spaced.(be careful here too and sand up the edges]

Step 4: FIT THE BiTS TOGETHER

Time to put the major parts together.
what you should have at this point is a small tin with holes around the rim and a larger one with triangular holes and inward protruding tabs.PIC 1
Pic 2 take the small tin and place it upside down inside the large one.
PIC 3 its essentially finished at this point if you dont have the muffler tape.
PIC 4,5 take enough aluminum muffler tape to go around the can and split it up the middle{you could use it full width but it isnt really necessary .
PIC 6 Wrap the Tape around the can so it forms a tube. then drop the lid in and fold the tape down to hold it all together.
all is left now is to put the fibreglass chunk into the can so its loosely filled. you could also use vermiculite for this too but then you would need to put a fine wire mesh in the top to keep the loose stuff in. the fibreglass will hold its shape after the first burn.

Step 5: Why We Need a Filler

im sure some of you are scratching your heads and wondering why the fibreglass.
fair enough ill tell you then. the glass or the vermiculite{i love that word} is there to act like a wick and and provides the following benefits.
even burn...the fuel doesnt boil itself away.
minimise spills... the packing holds the fuel and in the case of a tipover only the excess fuel spills.
gives you something to make out of that itchy plauge errr i mean fiberglass.
and also gives me a reason to say vermiculite lol.
CAUTION:
THIS STOVE IS DANGEROUS.
USE ONLY ALCOHOL BASED FUELS.
IF USED WITH GASOLINE IT WILL EXPLODE AND KILL YOU.
ALCOHOL FLAMES ARE INVISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT WAIT FOR EVERYTHING
TO COOL BEFORE ADDING MORE FUEL.
USE ONLY OUTDOORS.
there thats enough shouting to suit the lawyers
tune in next time for a combination windscreen and pot holder made from a coffee can.

An alternative to punching holes in the small can is to use a can opener (like with the bigger can) but push from the inside out. That leaves a circle of outward facing triangular tabs at the top of the small can. These tabs rub against the inside wall of the outer can, keeping the inner, smaller can centered.
Thanks for the instructable.

thanks so much for the great tutorial - you're going to be the star performer for our Scouts! We're bringing in the laptop and presenting your tutorial to make our stoves for camp... hey, work smarter, not harder - you've already done all the hard work! And, don't worry, we'll be sure to teach them to say "vermiculite" a whole bunch!!!

just a match or a lighter is all thats needed.
nothing fancy.
as for the fuel in your other question its fondue fuel that i get at the local dollar store.
you can also use gas line antifreeze or methy hydrate.
rubbing alcohol also works but try to get the stuff that has less water in it.
dont use gasoline it will explode and melt the tins

no problem there .
we have two cats and they are pigs.{not really though}
i usually make 40 dollars a year recyling the aluminum catfood cans so that will give you an idea how many.
actually some of the food coming out of the pricier cans looks good enough for me to eat.. lol
hope they still make that when im retired unless i get rich or sumptin.